Monica’s journey to becoming a marine mammal scientist has been exactly the wildly improbable series of events you’d expect from someone who spent her childhood doodling dolphins. It all started at the tender age of six when she declared, with the absolute certainty that only a six-year-old can muster, that she would be a marine biologist. This was a bold move for someone barely tall enough to see over the kitchen counter, but the decision was made, nonetheless. This proclamation was followed by years of shoehorning dolphins and bioacoustics into every school project, art assignment, and casual conversation. By high school, finding her hand in term papers that bore suspiciously dolphin-shaped watermarks wasn't unusual —her teachers suspected these were entirely deliberate. At 17, however, Monica encountered what can only be described as one of those life plot twists that would make a lesser person reconsider their dreams. At the cusp of university, she veered slightly off course, choosing to study biology to become a veterinarian. It was, in essence, like aiming for “Marine Mammal Scientist” and winding up as a “General Practitioner for Creatures with Paws.” Yet, ever the enthusiast, Monica dove headfirst into veterinary medicine with the same fervor she’d once applied to doodle dolphins in the margins of her notebooks. For several years, she followed this path diligently. But marine mammals, being the devious charmers they are, never truly let go of their hold on her. In time, Monica returned to her first love with a vengeance, now equipped with an arsenal of skills that allowed her to approach it renewed vigor. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at California State University with a concentration in Ecology. She then spent several years as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), a role that involved peering out over the vast, blue expanse, ensuring humans weren’t disturbing the dolphins' conversations. It was, she realized, the perfect way to get paid to do what she already loved—namely, stare at the ocean for hours on end. After a sojourn to her father’s native land of Chile and encounters with the endemic dolphin and porpoise species there, she packed her bags for the University of St. Andrews, where she studied Marine Mammal Science. Because if you’re going to study dolphins, why not do it in a place practically dripping with marine mammals? In the meantime, Monica continued her not-so-secret side hobby: surfing. Her love for it was undeniable, though her skill level could generously be described as “aspirational.” While she spent more time tumbling off her board than gliding smoothly over waves, the dolphins who frequently appeared alongside her didn’t seem to mind. They appeared to be showing off, as dolphins are prone to do. Monica didn’t take it personally—mostly because she was too busy trying to stay upright. But Monica isn’t finished yet. Now, with an eye toward decoding dolphin behavior and language (yes, really), she’s diving into Data Science and Machine Learning through MIT. Because what better way to talk to dolphins than with a bit of help from algorithms? As she embarked on this new quest, one thing was clear: Monica wasn’t just earning degrees; she was gathering tools to unlock the mysteries of the deep. And if there’s one thing dolphins have taught us, they’re always one step ahead. As they famously said before leaving Earth in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “So long, and thanks for all the fish.” Monica, however, is determined to figure out precisely what they meant by that—and maybe even ask them a few more questions before they leave again. Standing at the intersection of science, technology, and ocean advocacy, Monica is uniquely positioned to ask questions that could lead to real regulatory change, ensuring that these charismatic creatures—and the oceans they call home—are protected for future generations.